A Brechin pensioner has denied a string of charges relating to attacks in Angus by a pack of Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs.
Fiona Borders, 76, will face trial after being accused of letting four dogs run dangerously out of control in separate incidents in Brechin and Montrose last month. The charges allege that two men, aged 68 and 71, were injured, and other dogs bitten in the incidents.
Borders did not appear at Forfar Sheriff Court when the case called before Sheriff Kevin Veal on Thursday.
Defence solicitor Bob Bruce entered not guilty pleas on his client’s behalf in relation to a complaint containing six charges brought under the Dangerous Dogs Act and the Civic Government (Scotland) Act.
The first alleges that between February 1 and 13 at Viewbank in Brechin, that she was the owner of four dogs, believed to be Staffordshire Bull Terriers, that were dangerously out of control and attacked a man by repeatedly jumping at him and lunging at him.
Alternatively, Borders is accused of allowing the dogs to run freely and act aggressively towards the man.
Further charges relate to an alleged incident at East Links, Montrose, on February 3, when the accused is again said to have failed to control four dogs, allowing them to attack a 71-year-old by repeatedly jumping on him, causing him to fall to the ground.
Borders is also accused of allowing her dogs to repeatedly bite a dog belonging to the man in that incident.
The complaint against Ms Borders includes other charges relating to an alleged attack on a male OAP in a public park near Viewpark and Wards Road, Brechin on February 13.
They allege that that the animals were again dangerously out of control and that she allowed them to run freely and attack the man, causing damage to his clothing and repeatedly biting him on the body, to his injury.
The victim’s own dog is also alleged to have been injured after the Staffies repeatedly bit it.
Police launched an appeal for public help in the aftermath of the February 13 incident, linking it to the earlier Montrose incident.
On the evening of February 14, police seized four dogs from Ms Borders’ home in Montrose Street, Brechin.
Sheriff Veal set trial for April 22. The case will call again at an intermediate diet on April 10.